Briefly discuss some advantages of nonparametric tests. What ...

[lak]

Briefly discuss some advantages of nonparametric tests.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In hypothesis testing, the null and the alternative hypotheses are ________.
 
  A) not mutually exclusive
  B) mutually exclusive
  C) always false
  D) always true

[mcarey591]

Answer to Question 1

Some advantages of nonparametric tests include the following:
a) Fewer population assumptions
Normality is not required. These nonparametric tests are appropriate under a wide range of assumptions about underlying population distributions.
b) Computationally more straightforward
Nonparametric tests can be carried out quite rapidly. This is particularly true of the sign test.
c) Nominal or ordinal data can be tested
For example, if all that is known in a product comparison study is which product is preferred, the sign test is immediately applicable. In many practical situations data are available only in the form of ranks, leading naturally to such procedures as the Wilcoxon test or the Mann-Whitney test.
d) Less influenced by outliers
Just as the mean is greatly susceptible to influence by extreme outlying observations, so are inferences based on the t-test. By contrast, tests based on ranks give far less weight to odd outlying sample values.

Answer to Question 2

B